
X-*. 



BRIEF DESCRIPTION 



OP 



PHIL-ELLENA, 



COUNTRY SEAT OF GEORGE W. CARPENTER, 



GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENN. 



Situate on the Germantown Main Street, about seven and a half miles from 
the city. Commenced in 1841, and finished in 1844. 




PHILADELPHIA : 

PRINTED BY BARRINGTON AND HASWELL. 

1844. 









PRE FAC E 



These pages are intended for gratuitous distribution, and 
are written as a compliment to the Artists, Mechanics, and 
Labourers, employed in erecting and finishing the various 
buildings, furnishing materials, and laying out the grounds, 
&c. There will no doubt occur, in the haste of publication, 
some omission of names, which it is hoped will be attributed 
to an oversight, as every name will be given which can be 
recollected, and no one will be intentionally omitted. 

GEORGE W. CARPENTER. 



PHIL-ELLENA. 



The grounds on which the Mansion and other 
buildings are erected contain about 36 acres. The 
front on the Main street of Germantown is about 
600 feet, and is enclosed by a stone wall about 3 feet 
high, on which is erected a fancy fence richly or- 
namental, made of red cedar, and painted white. 
There are 3 large circular gates, with 14 heavy mas- 
sive posts with Gothic vases of large size. The 
gates at each end are used for carriage ways, and 
the centre gates for foot ways. The lawn in front 
of the building is large, and ornamented with fine 
forest trees interspersed with evergreens and shrub- 
bery. The forest trees embrace some of the finest 
specimens of the elm, beach, sycamore, linden, tulip 
and English poplars, cedars, pines, &c., &c; and the 
walks bordered with balm of Gileads, Norway 
spruce, silver pines, arbor vita's, Irish yews, and 

others. 

1* 



The mansion is situate about 200 feet from the 
front fence, in the centre of the lot ; on the north of 
it is a summer house of octagonal form, supported by 
8 fluted columns with antique caps, built over an 
ice-house, and surrounded by a grove of trees. On 
the south is a Grecian temple with porticos back 
and front, each supported by 4 fluted columns with 
antique caps of composite, in which the cap of the 
columns of the Tower of the Winds is the base. 
This temple is intended for a museum to contain 
cabinets and collections in the various branches of 
natural history, arts, and sciences. On the south of 
this is a hot house in two apartments covering a 
large area; in the rear of which is attached a shed 
covering 6 large furnaces for anthracite coal, by 
which heat is communicated through flues to regu- 
late the temperature within the inclosure. The in- 
side is fitted up with staging for plants, and a mar- 
gin on each side of about 4 feet wide used as a vine 
border for grapes. The rafters and uprights are all 
trellised with strong iron wire, and each rafter sup- 
ports a different vine, embracing all the finest varie- 
ties of foreign grapes; — large cisterns above and be- 
low ground, holding over 6000 gallons of water, with 
pumps and hydrant pipes are in constant requisition 
to water the extensive collection of exotics contained 
in the green house. 

The mansion house is of the Grecian order, com- 
manding a view of the spacious lawn in front and of 



the street on which it is bounded. The whole front 
of the building is about 165 feet, with large porticos 
back and front ; also fourteen Ionic columns front 
and six back. It consists of a main building 101 
feet in the clear, and two wings attached of 54 feet. 
The wing on the south is used as a conservatory, 
and that on the north as a kitchen, with a conserva- 
tory front, corresponding with the south wing. The 
following letters will briefly recapitulate and de- 
scribe the various parts of the mansion. 

A. Front Portico, supported by 12 Ionic columns, 
with capitals, from the example of the Temple 
of Minerva Polas, which constitutes one of the por- 
ticos from the Erectheon Temple at Athens. 

B. Porticos of North and South Wings, each 
supported by 4 columns and capitals, from the ex- 
ample of the Ionic Temple near the river Illisus at 
Athens. 

C. Hall, 11 by 20 feet, with triangular panneled 
ceiling and enriched cornice and mouldings in stucco. 

D. Saloon, with sliding doors communicating with 
parlors and drawing-rooms ; the ceiling divided by a 
rich Grecian entablature, supported by 4 Scagliola 
columns and anteas ; also decorated with reed and 
arabesque ornaments, forming the centres for chan- 



8 

deliers. The side walls panneled, the ground work 
being divided in blocks of variegated marble. At 
the entrance are the figures of Peace and Plenty on 
the side walls in medalions, executed by the distin- 
guished artist Monachesi of Italy, taken from Ra- 
phaels fresco painting in the hall of the Vatican at 
Rome. From the centre of the ceiling is suspended 
an eighteen branch chandelier of the manufacture of 
Cornelius & Co., and highly creditable to their esta- 
blishment for its rich and superb finish. The floor of 
the hall is covered with oil cloth in one piece, design- 
ed to match the Scagliola columns. The staircase, 
which commences about the centre of the hall, is of 
elliptical form, with continued railing to attic story. 
The banisters are richly carved, and surmounted 
with mahogany railing. The stairs, from landing to 
attic, covered with a velvet Saxony carpet, double 
bordered ; on the first landing is a Franklin Win- 
dow, with stained glass, executed by Mr. Gibson of 
New York, who is entitled to great credit for the 
superiority and beauty of his work in this and 
other parts of the building. The principal subject 
in this window is the picture of Aurora, by Guido. 
The side lights of this window, as well as the side 
and top lights of the front and back doors, are filled 
with trophies of game and fish, fruit and flowers; 
the whole of the colours of the richest and most per- 
manent kind are burnt in !he glass, and renders them 
almost as enduring as time. The doors opening in 
the various rooms from the hall are painted in imi- 



tation of oak and oak root, designed to represent 
strength and durability, are executed in a masterly 
style by John Gibson of Philadelphia, who has ac- 
quired a high reputation, and much celebrity, for his 
skill in the imitation of the various kinds of wood 
used in ornamental work. The great art of the 
painter in this branch consists not merely in the lay- 
ing on of the various colours, but in the adaptation 
of tints which will contrast and harmonize not only 
with themselves, but also with the uses and charac- 
ter of the various apartments. Mr. Gibson has not 
only succeeded most admirably and effectually to 
make a correct imitation, but also in keeping up such 
tones as to secure a combination of beauty and har- 
mony throughout the building. 

E. Two Parlors on the right of the hall, contain- 
ing about 912 square feet, with 5 windows extending 
to the floor, an enriched entablature supported by 4 
Scagliola columns and anteas. The ceilings are de- 
corated with arabesque ornaments, intermixed with 
flowers, butterflies, &c, forming a compartment, in 
the centre of which are paintings of circular form, 
representing in front room Philosophy, and the back 
room Poetry, taken from Raphael's fresco painting 
in the halls of the Vatican. The frieze is divided 
in hexagonal form, in the centre of which are birds, 
flowers, &c. These ceilings, as well as all of those 
on the first and second floor, are drawn true to na- 
ture and art by the talented and far-famed Mona. 



10 

chesi ; all the doors in these apartments are in imi- 
tation of satin wood, the tones of which have the 
lightness and vivacity so characteristic of the seve- 
ral apartments. In the centre of the entablature is 
suspended one of Cornelius's IS branch chandeliers ; 
on the north side are mantels of statuary marble, 
back and front richly carved and ornamented, re- 
presenting a basket of flowers on the frieze, and 
clusters of Morning Glories on the pilasters, executed 
by Thomas M. Birchell, who received a medal for 
the same at one of the exhibitions of the Franklin 
Institute. On the top of the mantels to the ceiling 
are French plate mirrors, with rich ornamental gilt 
frames, by Robinson of Chestnut street. The floors 
are covered with rich Wilton carpeting with double 
borders. The furniture are rose-wood Gothic sofa 
tables, with Egyptian marble tops ; chairs, ottomans, 
sofas and lounges, with embroidered needle work co- 
vering ; a fine finished statue of Apollo from the pure 
white statuary marble of Italy, executed by Pozzetto; 
a pier table, with several hundred small blocks of 
polished marble, all from different localities and from 
various parts of the world, manufactured in Italy, and 
accompanied with a record describing their quali- 
ties and localities ; several beautiful devices of shell- 
work, of flowers, fruits, ancient temples, &c. 

F. Two Drawing Rooms on left of hall, same 
dimensions as parlors, with two recesses, in which 
are French plate pier glasses, 120 inches by 40, with 



11 

superb frames by Robinson. The ceilings of both 
rooms ornamented with carved work and paintings 
decorated in the Elizabethian style, intermixed with 
grape vines, birds, peacock feathers, &c, &c. The 
centres of octagonal form, representing in the front 
Justice, and in the back room Piety or Theology, 
from Raphael's fresco paintings in the hall of the 
Vatican. The cornice frieze is ornamented with 
shells, flowers, heads, &c, &c. All the doors in 
these apartments are in imitation of elm root, whose 
richness and variety of colours harmonize with the 
elegance and magnificence of the whole, and which 
reflect great credit on Mr. Gibson's taste and skill. 
In the centre is suspended an 18 branch chandelier 
of Cornelius, similar to the parlors. The furniture 
in these rooms are rose wood of very superior finish, 
manufactured in Philadelphia and New York, and 
fully equal to any of the French importations. The 
locks, fastenings, and hinges of these and all other 
rooms in the house, are silver plated, manufactured 
by Mr. Rogers of Seventh street, and are highly 
creditable to him as a master of his profession. Su- 
perb transparent window shades, on rollers, painted 
by William Gibson of Philadelphia, are considered 
superior to any of the French importation. These 
shades are in all the windows of the first story of the 
main house, back and front, and are very ornamental. 

G. Library, containing 500 square feet ; the win- 
dows running to the floor and communicating with 



12 

the front portico. A large bay window, looking 
south on the lawn, is filled with ornamental stained 
glass, executed with great effect, and much admired 
by every one. The ceilings are panneled and orna- 
mented with carved mouldings, enriched with gold; 
the entablature extends round the room and finishes 
over the windows and sliding doors, supported by 
enriched anteas. The compartment of the ceiling 
is decorated with ornaments, emblematic of the arts; 
the centre, of circular form, represents Raphael's 
splendid painting of Jupiter from the fresco paint- 
ing in the hall of the Vatican ; a fancy border with 
gold rosettes in pannels, encloses the compartment. 
The doors are in imitation of black walnut, which 
has all the sombre, grave, and at the same time sub- 
stantial character so essential to a study. The room 
is rilled with book cases, of the same material, made 
in the Gothic style, from designs by Mr. Johnson, 
who is entitled to great credit for his drawings and 
drafts of these and of various other designs in differ- 
ent parts of the building. On the broad frieze, be- 
low the heavy block cornice on each book-case, are 
carved letters of the Gothic or old English text, giv- 
ing the contents of each case in the following classi- 
fication and order : on the frieze of 

No. 1 . — History, Biography, Voyages, and Travels. 

No. 2. — Law, Politics, Political Economy, and 
Trade. 



13 

No. 3.— Poetry, Religion, Metaphysics, Oratory, 
Drama, and Music. 

No. 4.— -Antiquities, Architecture, Sculpture, Paint- 
ing, Games, and Sports. 

No. 5.— Romance and Fiction, Souvenirs, Maga- 
zines, Portraits, and Scenery. 

No. 6. — Botany, Rural Affairs, Mineralogy, Ge- 
ology, Zoology, Ornithology, Conchology, Chemis- 
try, Medicine, Arts, and Trades. 

No. 7.— Classical and Polymathic Writers, Lan- 
guages, Dictionaries, Grammar, Education, Mathe- 
matics, Natural Philosophy, and Miscellaneous. 

H. Study, with doors communicating with the 
library, drawing room, and conservatory of plants 
on the south, with a window opening on the lawn 
to the south-west. This is a neat and retired apart- 
ment, furnished with revolving chairs, carpets, 
French escritoires, book-cases, &c. 

I. Passage from Library to Conservatory, with 
window south-west. 

K. Private Staircase to chamber in second story 
over the south-wing. 

2 



14 

L. Lobby. 

M. Conservatory, 25 by 31 feet with glass sash 
on the sides and top, and a neat stageing for choice 
flowers in bloom, kept constantly supplied from the 
large hot-house. 

N. Pump used to draw rain water from cistern 
in basement story, which receives the water from 
the roof of the main building, and contains about 
1500 gallons. 

0. Basement Story under conservatory, with stair- 
way to communicate, in which is a furnace and boiler 
with iron pipes conveying the hot water round this 
apartment, for heating the air in winter, and effectu- 
ally answering the purpose, and are superior to the 
brick flues. The plan and workmanship executed by 
the skilful and enterprising founders and machinists, 
Morris, Tasker and Morris, of Philadelphia, who 
also executed in a very satisfactory manner various 
other work in their line. On the eastern front of the 
conservatory, is a niche in mastic cement containing 
a carved figure of Flora ; also in the corresponding 
niche in the northern wing, a figure of Ceres. These 
and other statues, to be described hereafter, were exe- 
cuted by Rush, in whose work the great genius of 
his distinguished sire is traced, and by whose pliant 
hand the inanimate log is suddenly made to start 
into all the semblance of life and beauty. 



15 

P. Breakfast Parlor, similar in size and finish to 
the library, constitutes the north wing of the main 
building, that and the library forming the two ex- 
tremities ; all the intermediate rooms communicating 
by sliding doors, and when those are thrown open, 
forms an unbroken connection throughout, with a 
large bay window of stained glass, similar to that of 
the library, looking to the north-west, in front of 
which is a grove of trees, surrounding the summer 
and ice house. The centre of this ceiling represents 
Mars in his Chariot (from the beautiful painting of 
Raphael, in fresco, in the Vatican), encircled with 
festoons of flowers, and the richest specimens of 
Audubon's coloured birds, &c. The compartments 
closed by long pannels, having in the centres grape 
vines and fruit, and in the angles at the corners, 
heads representing the seasons, in appropriate cha- 
racters and designs. The doors in this apartment 
are in imitation of Spanish mahogany, combining 
richness and warmth of tone. It contains three front 
windows with sash extending to the floor and open- 
ing on the portico, which can be used as doors. The 
furniture is mahogany and rose wood, with a Saxony 
medallion carpet, &c, &c. 

Q. Pantry. 

R. Butler's Closet, communicating with breakfast 
room and passage to kitchen. This closet is very 
conveniently constructed with a private outside door, 



16 

and a door also inside, so that articles can be placed 
in the closet by the outside door and received inside 
by the other door, without the necessity of a ser- 
vant entering the parlor ; and communication may 
also be had with the domestics by means of speak- 
ing tubes from the parlor to the kitchen. 

S. Fire Proof. 

T. Private Stairs to second story. 

U. Small Conservatory in front of kitchen. 

V. Kitchen, 31 by 18, containing cooking range, 
constructed by Julius Fink, cistern pump, hydrant 
for cold spring water, also for hot water, boilers, &c. 

W. Back Portico. 

X. South Passage to cellar and basement of Greer* 
House. 

Y. North Passage to kitehen cellar and Wine- 
Vaults. 

Z. Steps and Entrances to kitchen. 

AA. Steps and Entrance to conservatory, front of 
the kitchen. 



17 

The plastering of the inside of the house is exe- 
cuted in a very superior manner, with rich cornices, 
mouldings, and other ornaments, all of which was 
done by James Frankland, plasterer, residing in 
George street, between Schuylkill Fifth and Sixth 
streets, north side. The outside of the main build- 
ing and museum is covered with mastic cement, 
which is far superior in beauty of finish and dura- 
bility to the ordinary rough casting of lime, &c. ; no 
lime enters into the composition of the mastic, which 
consists of boiled linseed oil, of a thick consistence, 
which, with the oxides and carbonate of lead, clean 
bar sand, and other ingredients, mixed with great 
care, and put on with an experienced hand, forms a 
cement impervious to water, hard as a stone, and of 
great durability. It is of great importance to have 
a master-hand in executing such work, and the pro- 
prietor can recommend with great confidence James 
Frankland, as a man fully qualified and perhaps the 
best qualified, at present, in this country, for such 
work. 

Under the building are cellars containing about 
3300 square feet, in which are two large hot air fur- 
naces, constructed by Mr. Potts, of Market street, 
and built by Aaron Fogg, which answers effectually 
the purpose of distributing heat throughout the 
whole house ; also a superior force pump with air 
chamber, &c, to raise the water from the bottom 
of a well, a short distance from the house, and con- 
. 2* 



18 

vey it to a large cistern in the attic story, by which 
water is distributed in hydrant pipes through the 
house, supplying baths, kitchen, fountain front of the 
house, &c, &c. 

These fixtures and all the plumbing in the main 
building and hot-houses, were executed by Messrs. 
Wright and Hunter, plumbers, Eighth street below 
Market, which were all finished in the most supe- 
rior manner, and highly creditable to them; and the 
proprietor takes great pleasure in recommending 
them to all persons who build houses, as highly 
worthy and enterprising mechanics, fully masters of 
their profession, and who attend personally to their 
business. 

The second story is divided into 15 rooms, 5 of 
which contain an area of 400 square feet each. The 
ceilings are decorated with Raphaelese and Ara- 
besque ornaments, interspersed with flowers and 
figures, forming the different compartments and de- 
signs in each room: such as Power or Force by 
Raphael, Night and Day, Flora, Juno, &c, &c. 

The chambers are covered with Saxony and Brus- 
sels carpet, and the furniture rose wood, walnut 
and mahogany, most of which was manufactured in 
a superior manner by the industrious and enterpris- 
ing Robertson, No. 137 Walnut street. 



19 

One of these rooms is used as a picture gallery, 
the walls of which are covered with numerous 
splendid paintings, by eminent artists of Europe and 
America ; among which are the following subjects: 

Orphans at the Grave of their Mother ; an inter- 
esting and highly finished picture by Rochen. 

The Poor Officer's Widow receiving Alms from a 
Pensioner of L 'Hotel des Invalids ; a picture full of 
sentiment and truth, by M. Pages. 

The Convalescent ; a very highly finished picture, 
by Midi, 

The Retreating Arab — Recollections of the Cam- 
paign of Egypt ; a fine painting by H. Vernet. 

Two pictures of " Children playing the Soldier 
and Postilion ; very excellent composition by Jac- 
quand. 

Cattle Piece ; a choice picture by Berru 

Moonlight — the Ship Wrecked and on Fire; a very 
choice painting by Poittevin. 

The Thunder Storm and the Cherished Dog; 
charming composition by Beaume. 



20 

The Impending Storm — Friends in Danger; a 
highly finished and interesting composition by Be- 
veria. 

The Mother's Fright; an interesting picture by 
Franquelin. 

The Echo, a lady in the foreground touches the 
guitar, a cavalier in the distance takes up and con- 
tinues the strain, a complete picture by Roqueplan. 

Devotion ; a large and splendid painting, a highly 
creditable production by Street. 

The Ramble in the Country ; a gentleman cutting 
Petrifactions from a rock, an interesting picture by 
CiboU 

The windows in this room open to the west from 
which the most delightful scenery and landscape 
meet the eye ; and on every side, the most pleasing 
scenes present themselves to view. The touching 
aspect of delightful nature, the variegated verdure 
of the forests of fruits and shrubbery, the soft agita- 
tions of the foliage, the sweet warblings and enliven- 
ing strains of the feathered choir, chaunting their 
rural songs, the glassy surface of the silent waters, 
and the daisied borders of the silver lake; the solemn 
and stately march of men returning from their daily 
toil, the graceful movements of the generous and 



21 

noble steeds, with the rambles of innocent Iambs, 
all in view. Who would not rather seek in these 
delightful retreats these pure and simple pleasures 
of nature, so delicious in recollection, and produc- 
tive of joy so pure, so affecting, so different from 
what is acquired amidst the noise and clamour of a 
crowded city, and the bustle, care and toil of an ac- 
tive business, and yet how loth are we to exchange ! 
What purity of sentiment, what peaceful repose, 
what exalted happiness is thus inspired ! How far 
more interesting to the heart are the delightful occu- 
pations of rural industry than the dull and tasteless 
entertainments of a dissipated city, and how much 
more easily the most excruciating sorrows are pleas- 
ingly subdued on the fragrant borders of a peaceful 
stream, than in the midst of those treacherous de- 
lights which occupy the court of kings { 

In the centre of the roof of main building is erect- 
ed an octagonal observatory, supported by eight 
Grecian columns, with antique caps ; also eight sets 
of sash doors ; opening and communicating with a 
balcony, which forms a walk of four feet wide 
around the same, enclosed by a neat Chinese railing. 
It is on an elevation of more than 500 feet above the 
level of Philadelphia. Here may be seen with the 
naked eye vessels plying on the Delaware, the va- 
rious public buildings, and churches of the city, Gi- 
rard College, the villages of Mantua, Hamilton, 
Roxborough, Chesnut Hill, &c, &c. ; and in the in- 



22 

tervening distance, the most fertile and luxuriant 
valleys, clothed with vegetation, forests of fruit and 
groves of shrubbery, extensive meadows, and beau- 
tiful lawns, dotted with cottages, far as the eye can 
reach. From this view also the grounds and build- 
ings of Mr. Carpenter can be seen in coup aVozil. 
The various buildings, with their neat and elevated 
spires, the beautiful lawn subdivided in neat and 
fanciful beds, with capacious gravelled walks; the 
extensive garden enclosed in a richly ornamented 
Chinese open-wood fence, &c, &c. 

On the west, a short time before sunset in autumn, 
the most pleasing and interesting scenes present 
themselves to our view. The brilliant sun, sinking 
behind the elevated boundaries of the Wissahiccon 
and Schuylkill, tinges the autumnal foliage of the 
forest with its golden rays : 

How beautiful are those skies at eve, 

As the sun in splendour set, 

While darkness hovers on the eastern wave, 

Which the evening rays forget. 

The feathered choir with melodious warblings, 
hastening to seek their mossy cells — a soft, a silent, 
and serene repose. The lively flocks quitting their 
rich pastures to seek their evening folds. How pleas- 
ing is the spot, from which the home of birth, in- 
fancy, and childhood can be seen : and who is it that 
does not prefer his native fields to any other place — 



23 

not that they are more beautiful, but because he 
was there brought up? The spot on which we 
passed our infant days possesses a secret charm> 
an inexpressible enchantment, superior to every 
other enjoyment. No other spot on the face of the 
earth can equal that on which the gambols of our 
infant days were passed without inquietude or 
care — without even the use or thought of drugs and 
medicines. In those delightful days of early youth 
the trivial event of even rinding a bird's nest is 
capable of affording unbounded pleasure ; what hap- 
piness I have experienced from the caressing of 
the little captive, in teaching it to pick its victuals 
from my mouth, while its wings fluttered with gra- 
titude, and its thankful heart throbbed through its 
breast with joy against my hand. The mind also 
contemplates the pranks of school, the sprightly 
aberrations of boyish days, the wanton stories of 
early youth, our plays and pastimes, and all the lit- 
tle hopes and fears of infancy with fond delight. 
With school companions and desk mates, how va- 
rious are the changes which the lapse of time has 
made ? Some of them in prosperity, some in adver- 
sity; some in honor and high standing, others in 
dishonour and degradation ; some in the splendour 
of wealth and affluence, and others in poverty and 
want ; some are roaming about in distant lands 
without a fixed abode, or a home ; others have re- 
mained in the land of their nativity ; some are sin- 
gle men, and others at the head of a family, with a 



24 

loving wife and fond children, to greet their arrival 
home. — What can be more delightful to a busi- 
ness man, or to a professional man, than his dear 
wife and darling children; and how pleasing is it to 
see the studious and industrious man, abandoning 
his recondite and laborious researches, escape from 
the labyrinth, and find in the innocent and simple 
enjoyments of his children and those about him, 
more happiness, tranquillity, cordial sensation and 
intellectual delight, than all the prosperity of fortune 
which a lucrative business will insure, or even that 
the arts and sciences can afford to their most ardent 
and enthusiastic votaries. — Many have long since 
been forgotten in the hollow cell of the silent tomb. 
Such are the changes of all human affairs and the 
uncertainty of every thing which appertains to earth. 

On the south-east you observe the Museum, an 
oblong building in the Grecian temple style, with 
porticos front and back, supported by four columns 
each, with niches containing statues of Minerva and 
of Eloquence by Rush. The inside of this building 
is finished with a gallery and opening in the centre 
which is reached by a staircase in the rear. The 
first floor is intended for collections in Ornithology, 
Mineralogy, Geology, Conchology, Entimology, Bo- 
tany, &c, in neat mahogany cases ; also cabinets of 
ancient Coins, Medals, &c. The gallery is appro- 
priated for objects of Zoology, and for assorted speci- 
mens in the various departments of Natural History, 



25 

arts and sciences. Over the western portico is a small 
room fitted up for bees; and so constructed that the 
bees may be seen at work from the inner side of the 
building by means of glass partitions, &c. Under the 
museum is a cellar, for storing boxes, packing, &c. 

On the north-west is seen a beautiful octagonal 
Summer House, on which rises, through a group of 
trees, an octagon dome, surmounted by a spire 40 
feet high, with an image of Mercury as a vane, carv- 
ed by Rush and painted by Woodside ; a beautiful 
carved figure on one of the octagonal divisions of 
the roof, also by Rush, representing a youth in a 
shivering position seated on blocks of ice, with 
his mantle drawn around him. The lower part 
of the building is finished with S columns, antique 
caps, similar to those on the Museum, and enclosed 
by S double sash doors opening on the lawn, on ail 
sides. Under this is an Ice House, cut out of the 
solid rock, containing when full about 1300 cubic 
feet of ice. 

Near the entrance at the south-east gate, is seen 
the Hot House, covering an area of about 6000 
square feet, and enclosed by a sash, containing ovef 
25,000 lights of glass : in the rear of which and sub- 
terraneous are six hot air furnaces, connected with 
brick flues of about 800 feet in length, built by Robert 
Luther of Philadelphia, which answers effectually 
the purpose of preserving the plants during the most 
severe and inclement weather of our winter months, 
3 



26 

The building is divided into three apartments, and 
each can be regulated of different temperatures by- 
separate furnaces and flues, so as to suit the variable 
degrees of temperature required by plants coming 
from all parts of the globe. 

On the south is seen the Kitchen Garden, covering 
an area of 45,000 square feet of ground, with six 
spacious graveled walks, crossing each other at right 
angles. These walks, as well as others comprising 
the various avenues of the lawn, are made by a 
depth of two feet of solid stone loosely thrown in 
and Macadamised on the top, and then covered with 
a thick stratum of red gravel from Coates's street, 
near Fairmount. These, and the whole of the ground 
plan, was constructed under the direction and super- 
vision of Edwin M. Mather, ornamental gardener, 
of Pine street, Philadelphia. 

On the west of the main building is a neat cot- 
tage of stone, 20 by 40 feet, two stories high, which 
is occupied by Mr. Allen, the farmer ; and adjacent 
to it is a cottage barn for cows and the working 
horses employed on the farm. On this building is a 
neat spire of about 25 feet, surmounted by a vane 
representing a mermaid, a copy of that on the Tower 
of the Winds. On the east of the farm cottage is a 
capacious barn, SO by 50 feet, with a wing on ei\ch 
side, for coach-house, harness room, wagon-house, 
&c. The wing on the south is supported by piers 
and truss girder, and open below so as to drive un- 



27 

der for shelter, affording also a convenient place 
to water and clean the coach horses, dec., having a 
pump and other conveniences. On the western end 
of the barn, on the lower floor is stabling for car- 
riage and saddle horses ; the stabling, and the 
whole of the first floor and the second story of the 
wings are plastered with three coats, and the walls 
and ceilings finished similar to dwelling houses. On 
the centre of the building, is a handsome steeple, one 
hundred feet from ground floor, surmounted with a 
vane representing a figure of Diana with bow, ar- 
rows and hound, carved by Rush and painted by 
Woodside. On the south of the barn in the meadow 
is a neat Spring House, two stories high, over a never- 
failing spring of water, on which rises, through a 
copse of trees, a neat spire surmounted by a vane 
representing Neptune, neatly carved by Rush and 
painted by Woodside. This spring with several 
ahers which run through the ground and directed to 
this point by subterranean aqueducts, supply two 
artificial lakes stretching to the west several hundred 
feet in length, and in width north and south about 
100 feet, with a depth of 8 to 10 feet at the dam. It 
is advantageously shaded on the south by a small 
strip of wood which gives the spot a romantic 
appearance. These lakes were made at a great ex- 
pense ; and the proprietor has called them Silver 
Lakes, from the beauty of nomenclature as well as a 
facetious signification from the quantity of silver 
sunk in their waters. 



28 

No architect was employed about the buildings ; — 
the plan being that of the proprietor, assisted by 
Mr. Nathan Smedley, carpenter and chief builder, to 
whom great credit is due for his talents and skill 
in carrying out the various plans, as well as for 
numerous original designs. The proprietor is also 
greatly indebted to him for his assistance in pro- 
jecting the design and plan of the main building 
and all the out-houses on the grounds; also for 
his faithful and indefatigable attention in super- 
intending the work from the first entrance of the 
spade in the ground to the last nail which was 
driven, and the finishing stroke of the painter. The 
proprietor also takes this opportunity, of recommend- 
ing Mr. Smedley as a carpenter and builder of the 
highest order of qualification, and as a prudent, care- 
ful, honest and industrious man, and worthy the full 
confidence of any person in town or country who 
may design to have buildings erected in the best 
manner with as little waste and unnecessary ex- 
pense as possible. Great credit is also due to 
Mr. William Johnston, draftsman, for his faithful 
and accurate delineations and drawings of the mould- 
ings, cornices, and various devices made use of in 
and about the building; also to the following arti- 
sans who contributed severally their labors to make 
up the building from its commencement to its finish — 
all of which was performed in the most satisfactory 
manner. 



LIST OP 



ARTISTS, MECHANICS, ETC., 



Who Contracted for Various Parts of the Work. 



Chief Builder. 
N. Smedley. 

Stone Masons. 
Abraham Culp, 
T. Glackins, 
W. White, 
J. Smith. 

Plasterer. 
ames Frankland. 

Painters. 
Joel Thorn, 
Peter Field, 
Asbury Regar. 



Artists and Ornamental 
Painters. 

N. Monachesi, 
John Gibson, 
William Gibson. 

Ornamental Gardener. 
Edwin M. Mather. 

Gardeners. 
James Gallagher, 
Aquilla Pasco. 

Marble Masons. 
Frederick Fritz, 
Thomas M. Birchell, 
W. H. Brown. 



30 



Granite Masons, 
Coffin & Biddle, 
S. Hoxie, 
Charles T. Depree. 

Bricklayers. 

Aaron Fogg, 
R. Luther. 

Iron Founders. 
Morris, Tasker & Morris 

Upholsterers. 
W. C. Edwards, 
Thomas Finly. 

Carpetings. 
J. B. Orne, 
Hastings & Phillips. 

Scagliola Columns. 
Kelly & Farly. 

Plumbers. 
Wright & Hunter. 

Blacksmiths. 
Thomas Armitage. 
Jacob Dull, Jr., 
S. Coulson. 

Tinsmiths. ' 
George Johnson, 
Thomas Y. Morris. 



Locks, Bells, Hinges and 
Plating. 

Peter Rogers. 

Carvers. 
Bolton & Hamilton, 
John Otton, 
John Rush. 

Plate and Window Glass. 

Guy, Lussac & Co., Paris, 
Coffin, Hay & Bow die, 
A. & B. Haines. 

Looking Glasses and Gild- 
ing. 
C. N. Robinson, 
Spencer Nolen. 

Wire, Screws, and Trel- 
lises. 
Wickersham & Davis. 

Chandeliers, $*c. 
Cornelius & Co. 

Cabinet Makers. 
/Thomas Robertson, 
Crawford Riddle, 
Samuel B. Bailey, 
J. & H. Crout, 
W. C. Edwards. 



The following Catalogue of Names, embrace persons who fur- 
nished materials of different kinds for the buildings and various im- 
provements on the 1 grounds; also, the operatives, as far as could 
be ascertained, who were employed at the work. 



Atherton, H. 
Allen, William 
Archer, Abel 
Akin, William 
Armitage, Thomas 
Atherton, William 
Allen, James 
Archibald, John 
Ashridge, Abraham 
Allison, C. 
Abbot, Theodore 
Abbott, Miles M. 
Albany, Levy 
Andrews, William 
Allen, Peter 
Burns, Michael 
Brownholtz, Joseph 
Bolton, William P. 
Bard & Lamont 
Barber, J. & J. 
Bennet, David 
Brown, James 
Broadhead, John H. 
Birchell, Thomas M» 
Barnard, Joseph S. 
Bolton & Hamilton 
Brown, Wm. H. 
Brown, A. 
Bisbing, Jacob 
Buck, James 
Bysher, Jacob 
Barr, Henry 
Bond & Pauling 
Breason, James 
Buest, Robert 
Basketter & Marsh 
Benton, A. & Co. 
Burk, Joseph W. 
Brano, Joseph 
Barr, William 



Bogan, Benjamin 
Buddy, Samuel 
Brown, William 
Brown, John 
Beck, Frederick 
Booth, James H. 
Bisher, Samuel B. 
Bladen, George 
Bell, Francis 
Bailey, Samuel B. 
Brooks, Joseph 
Burns, Levi 
Bailey & Kitchen 
Bruner, A. 
Bouvier, M. 
Bur gin, J. 
Brooks, David 
Bisbing, Jacob M. 
Brooks, John W. 
Burtman, H. C. 
Baeder, Charles 
Bonsall, William 
Burns, William 
Buck, Robert 
Buley, John 
Cox, Charles 
Cornel, Alexander 
Cross, William 
Carmody, Thomas 
Carter, Amos 
Coffin & Biddle 
Culp, Abraham 
Culp, Samuel 
Coulston, Sylvester 
Coulston, William 
Crout, J. & A. 
Cuthbert, Allen 
Colwell, S. 
Coggins, David 
Cressman, Henry 



32 



Chew, William S. 

Coggon, Abraham 

Callen, John 

Carse, John 

Crawford, John 

Cruse, Daniel 

Collins, Thomas 

Carpenter, Aaron 

Croskey, Henry- 
Combs, John R. 

Conwell, Edward 

Conglum, T. 

Colton, John 

Capewell & Brother 

Campbell, Peter 

Conoroy, John 

Clymer, John 

Carney, Edward 

Coates, Joseph P. H. 
Cook, James 
Clifford, Patrick 
Cobb, James 
Chambers, William C. 
Cox, Gideon 
Cornelius & Co. 
Chatter ton, John 
Coffin, Hay & Bcwdle 
Conrad, James M. 
Cropper, S. P. 
Clark E. 
Curtis & Hand, 
Coverly, George W. 
Campbell, John 
Cameron, Robert 
Casner, J. F. 
Cannon, J. 
Crout, Joseph R. 
Campbell, James 
Cross, William 
Davis & Williams 
Donley, David 
Depree, Charles T. 
Dreer, J. & J. 
divine, Hugh 
Duiap, Jefferson 
Dager, W lliam 



Duke, Bernard 

Davis, James P, 

Dull, Jacob, Jr. 

Dickinson, John 

Dehr, P. 

Diver, William 

Dickey, Thomas 

Dickinson, Joseph 

Daily, David 

Davenport, R. W. 

Duhring, H. 

Dallet, E. 

Davis, Thomas 
Eegory, John M. 
Donald, J. 
Doah, Joseph 
Dilastatius, Alfred 
Dowling, Edward 
Elder, Henry S. 
Evans & Wister 
Elliott, John 
Esler, Benjamin 
Ellis, Jonathan 
Erwin, Joseph 
Evesham & Colsher 
Elliott, N. 
Edwards, W. C. 
Engard, W. H. 
Engleman, Daniel W. 
Eldridge &, Conrad 
Evans, Oliver 
Emerick, George 
Eiserman, Charles 
Engle, Delany 
Engle, Aaron 
Engle, George 
Erwin, Joseph 
Frankland, James 
Farringer & Walter 
Freeman, T. W. L. 
Fritz, Frederick 
Fillman, Charles 
Fogg, Aaron 
Feaster, John 
Fink, Julius 
Frankland, Henry, Sen. 



33 



Forsyth, P. B., & Brother 

Fickel, Jacob 

Fisher, Samuel 

Field, Peter . _ 

Fisher, Peter 

Finley & Co. 

Furness, John D. 

Fisher, Henry 

Fisher, C. 

Ford, Robert H. 

Fort, R. 

Frankland, Henry, Jr. 

Flanagan, Matthew 

Fitch, George 

Given, Thomas G. 

Glackins, S. 

Gaskill, A. W. 

Gerehardt, Jacob 

Gallagher, James 

Garvin, Anthony 

Green, John H. 

Gear, Ephraim 

Gracy, John 

Gibson, John 

Gibson, William 

Graham, John 

Graff, Daniel 

Goode, William 

Guyer, William 

Gowen, James 

Gither, Jacob 

Gray, Daniel 

Guy, Lussac & Nolens 

Given, James 

Gardner, William 

Gibbs, Job R. 

Gibson, George H. 

Gibson, William 

Hoffey, John 

Hart, Daniel 

Hall, James 

Haraden, J. 

Hong, Levi 

Homer & Hughes 

Hocker, C. M. 



Haines, A. & B. 
Hansell, A. R. 
Hoxie. Solomon K, 
Hall, Thomas 
Hamilton, Charles 
Hubbard, William 
Harper, John 
Hudson, William 
Hubbard, William, Jr. 
Henry, Solomon 
Hoyt, Jonathan 
Hinkle, Peter B. 
Henry, William 
Hand, Stephen 
Hutchinson, John 
Hays, Jesse 
Hastings & Phillips 
Hinchman, Jacob 
Hart, Daniel 
Horner & Sons 
Headman, G. & D. 
Herbert & Davis 
Haines, Reuben 
Haines, Thomas 
Hanna, George 
Harding, John 
Hippie, Albert 
Hoge, Peter 
Harris, Thomas 
Hunter, William 
Hartley, George 
Hunter, William A. 
Hutchinson, Hugh 
Idel, George 
Johnson, George R. 
Johnson, Isaac 
Jeffreys, Edward 
Johnston, William 
Johnston, Charles 
Johnson, Jonathan 
Jacobs & Corroy 
Johns, Joseph 
Johns, William 
Johnson, James 
Jones & Reynolds 



34 



Johnston, Clinton 
Jones, Joel 
Johnson, William 
Jones, J. E. 
Johnson, Thomas R. 
Johnson, George 
Jacobs, Henry 
Jones, Asbury 
King, William 
Keyser, Samuel 
Kimball, A. 
Kavely, William 
King, John 
Kelley & Farley 
Kernan, James 
Kemp, O. 
Kulp, Abraham B. 
King, Henry 
Kruger, Louis 
Kellett, Robert 
Keller, Thomas 
Keyser & Gorgas 
King, Keyser & Co. 
King, Charles M. 
King, Martin 
Linton, James 
Ijewellen, William 
Leibert, P. &, C. 
Lovett, Thomas 
Levering, Hugh 
Lindsay, Joseph 
Jjong, John 
Lockart, William 
Levering, Terrance 
Luther, Robert 
Levering, William 
Linnard & Sonsj 
Libberman, John* 
Little, James 
Lye, Henry 
Lyons & Hart 
Lord, G. W. 
Lohman, Isaac 
Lesly, R. 
Leadbeater & Son 



Le Jamtree, A. 
Lukens, C. 
Lang, John 
Landreth & Munris 
Laws, L. 
Miller, James 
Maule, Wm. W. 
Mallory, H. S. 
Masters, George 
Miller, John G. 
McCauly, Lawrence 
Megarge, Samuel 
McCurly, Lawrence 
Matlock, T. 
Mather, Edwin M. 
McDowell, John 
Marshall, Davis 
Muzzy, William M. 
Miller & Brother 
Meade, Patrick 
McGlen, Francis 
McFaden, William 
Montgomery, John 
McDonald, William 
Meany & McDonald 
Marshall, George 
Mooney, John 
Martin, Hugh 
Mills, Charles 
McMahon, William 
McGonley, John 
McGinley, J. 
Monachesi, N. 
Markle, Joseph 
McGrath, William 
McMahon, William 
McKain, J. 
Morris, Thomas Y. 
Martin, Jacob 
McCartney, Thomas 
Mahenney, Daniel 
Masliu, M. M. 
Manderson, A., & Son 
McMahon, John 
Mahony, Timothy 



35 



Major, James 
McKenny, Peter 
Martin, Henry 
McKnight 
McDevht, John 
Mahon, Daniel 
McPherson, Robert 
McGrath, Jeremiah 
.Meeser, Henry 
Milier, Abraham 
Mitchell, James 
McMichael, Samuel 
Mason, Phillip A. 
Myers, Claghorn & Co. 
Metz, George W. 
Meyer, C. 
Mclntyre, Robert 
McCann, George 
McFetrich, John H. 
Maxwell, Ed. 
Miley, John 
McClain, Thomas 
Naglee, John & Son 
Nolen, S. 
O'Brien, Daniel 
Orne, J. & B. 
Potter, George 
Parry, Edwin 
Pauling, John 
Potts, William F. 
Perry, Robert 
Pierson, John C. 
Pollock, J. R. 
Phillips, George 
Pullinger, James 
Pullinger, Henry 
Patterson, Thomas 
Pfeiffer, George 
Pascoe, Aquilla 
Patton, Robert 
Paxson, R., & Son 
Patton, James M. 
Patton, James, Jr. 
Parry &. Randolph 
Poits, L. M. 



Quigly, Alexander 
Quinn, James 
Regan, Wm. H. 
Regar, Asbury 
Regar, Jacob 
Reed, William 
Randolph, G. 
Reevely, William 
Randolph, Samuel, & Co. 
Reeves, Elwood 
Richards, E. H. 
Richards Mark 
Redinger & Minster 
Rittenhouse, George 
Robb, Thomas 
Rex, Wm., Jr. 
Righter, John 
Rittenhouse, Jonathan 
Robb, B. 

Rittenhouse, Joseph 
Randolph, Garrett 
Ryan, James 
Rogers, Peter 
Reeves, Joel 
Repshire, Jacob 
Roberts, Anthony 
Robertson, Thomas 
Riddle, Thomas 
Rice, J. 
Robinson, E. 
Remington, J. 
Riddle, Robert 
Richardson, Lemuel 
Rehler, John 
Rambler, Peter 
Ripple, S. 
Rudolph, George 
Reed, Obed 
Reed, William 
Richards, S. 
Robeson, Henry 
Reed, J. D. 
Robinson, William 
Rogers, William 
I Rugan, George 






4 



36 



Rankin, Andrew 

Ross, Walton 

Ralfsnyder, Stephen 

Seckler, George 

Steel, Jos. J. 

Sell, Isaac & William 

S medley, Nathan 

Smith, James 

Stackpole, O. 

Stewart, James 

Smith, W T illiam 

Stuart, Martin 

Savery, William & Thomas 

Stetson, William 

Smith, Louis A. 

Schmith, Martin 

Saulsbury, John 

Stevens, Samuel 

Smith, Isaac 

Smith, Michael 

Smith, John 

Street, Robert 

Simons, Wayne & Co. 

Shunk, Isaac 

Snyder, Henry 

Swan, William 

Smedley & Sharpless 

Schrack, C. 

Simons, Nathan 

Semplin, George 

Stackhouse, Robert 

Stuart, James 

Sheppard, William 

Stewart, John 

Snider, George 

Supplee, Davis 

Scott, Thomas 

Springer, Eno* 

Thornton, James 

Thorn, Joel T. 

Truman, Joseph T. 

Thibault, T. 

Taylor, James 

Thomas, Moses & Son 

Thomas, D. D. 



Tarns & Co. 
Taylor, William 
Trueman, John 
Thomas, Francis 
Tracy, John 
Thompson, M. 
Trump & Sons 
Thorn, Benjamin V. 
Thorn, '1 nomas E. 
Thorn, Henry 
Unruh, George B. 
Valentine, J. H. 
Volume, Jeremiah 
Williams, R. A.& J. J. 
White, William 
Wood, William 
Walton, W. P. 
Woodside, John H. 
W 7 eller, W. P. 
Vvitman, George 
Ward & Wardell 
Walters & Soudcr 
Wainright & Gillingham 
Welsh, Francis 
West, F. W. 
Wickersham & Davis 
Whetham, J.& J. D. 
Wolff, Daniel 
Wright & Hunter 
Wood, William 
Wayne, William 
Williams & Co. 
Wilson & Roberts 
Wolbert & Herkness 
Wagner, William 
Weeber, Robert 
Weigner, Jacob 
Wilson, William 
Watson, John H. 
Young & Warner 
Yarnell, D. D. & Co. 
Zell, Andrew 
Zell, Thomas, & Co. 
Zantzinger, George 



